Communication Class Introduction

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Questions and Answers

What should students prioritize in order to maximize participation in classroom activities?

Using unrelated devices during discussions

Taking notes during lectures

Arriving late to class to avoid distractions

Completing all required readings before class begins (correct)

Which of the following is considered disruptive behavior in the classroom?

Participating in group discussions

Using a computer to take notes

Engaging in respectful debates

Showing up late to class (correct)

What is the best method of communication for brief inquiries to the instructor?

Phone calls only

Office hours meetings

Columbia College email (correct)

Group chats with peers

What is the potential consequence of being late to class?

Students may miss out on participation opportunities, impacting their grades. Signup and view all the answers

During which days and time is the instructor available for Zoom office hours?

Monday and Tuesday from 12pm-1pm Signup and view all the answers

What behavior is essential to maintain a respectful and inclusive digital classroom?

Respectfully engaging with differing perspectives Signup and view all the answers

How should students prepare for in-class group discussions?

Complete all required readings beforehand Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of classroom participation is emphasized as extremely valuable?

Small groups presenting findings or discussion points Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of the ice-breaker activity?

To identify impostors among classmates Signup and view all the answers

Which narrative perspective suggests that media influences our behavior positively?

Utopian perspective Signup and view all the answers

During the ice-breaker activity, what should impostors do?

Make up a believable identity Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the tasks when groups consult the Course Outline?

Search for answers to priority questions Signup and view all the answers

How many questions are groups expected to come up with during Part One of the Course Outline activity?

2-3 questions Signup and view all the answers

What theme is explored in the video and discussion of 'Black Mirror S3 E1'?

Digital societal structures Signup and view all the answers

What are students encouraged to do while their classmates introduce each other?

Pay attention and try to identify impostors Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential outcome of the discussion on whether media shapes us?

Both positive and negative transformations are possible Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary issue with hopeful and concerned thinking regarding media and technology?

They often overlook the full context. Signup and view all the answers

In the Black Mirror episode 'Nosedive', what are viewers encouraged to analyze?

Forms of media and their social impacts. Signup and view all the answers

The term 'utopia' refers to which of the following?

A place of ideal perfection in various aspects. Signup and view all the answers

How have media technologies historically been perceived?

They tend to evoke mixed responses of utopianism and dystopianism. Signup and view all the answers

Which example illustrates traditional concerns about new media technologies?

The arrival of social media platforms. Signup and view all the answers

What notable perspective did Socrates have on writing and the alphabet?

He viewed it as a form of silent expression. Signup and view all the answers

In group discussions prompted by media critiques, which component is often addressed?

The balance between utopian and dystopian views. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is identified as a benefit of media technologies?

Their role in fostering social connections. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main focus of the Uses and Gratifications theory?

The micro-scale interactions of audiences and media Signup and view all the answers

Which perspective does the Marxist/Frankfurt School adopt regarding mass media?

It perpetuates ideologies that maintain elite power structures. Signup and view all the answers

What key concern does the critical paradigm emphasize in media studies?

Qualitative methods and power imbalances Signup and view all the answers

Feminist approaches in media studies primarily focus on which issue?

Representations of gender and power in media Signup and view all the answers

What criticism is often directed at the Uses and Gratifications approach?

It neglects the macro-social context of media use. Signup and view all the answers

The concept of 'cultural dupes' reflects which viewpoint in media theory?

Passive audiences absorbing media messages uncritically Signup and view all the answers

British Cultural Studies are primarily concerned with which aspect of media?

The interaction between culture and social identity Signup and view all the answers

The critical paradigm rejects which model of media understanding?

The transmission model Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary characteristic of mass communication?

It involves the transmission of information on a large scale. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes 'new media'?

Practices facilitating broad participation in information exchange. Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of technological convergence?

The integration of online streaming with gaming platforms. Signup and view all the answers

Which group is primarily responsible for creating media artefacts?

Producers such as writers and filmmakers. Signup and view all the answers

How do audiences increasingly engage with media artefacts in the digital world?

By modifying or remixing artefacts produced by others. Signup and view all the answers

What is corporate convergence?

The merging of separate companies across media sectors. Signup and view all the answers

Which option best characterizes the role of media according to Marxist Media Theory?

It primarily promotes the interests of the ruling class. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect does Feminist Media Research primarily focus on?

The portrayal and representation of women in media. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes British Cultural Studies from the Frankfurt School's critique of mass society?

Its emphasis on audience agency and identity construction Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of feminism is associated with the work of Betty Friedan?

Addressing untrue representations of women in media Signup and view all the answers

What key concept is emphasized by third wave feminism in media studies?

Intersectionality in understanding gender representations Signup and view all the answers

What is a major criticism of the transmission model of communication?

It assumes media content always reflects citizens' interests. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the ritual model of communication?

It examines collective understanding and shared meanings. Signup and view all the answers

How does feminist media research align with the broader feminist movement?

By critiquing patriarchy within media representations. Signup and view all the answers

Which theorist is known for integrating poststructural analysis into feminist media research?

bell hooks Signup and view all the answers

Which feature is common across British Cultural Studies and feminist media research?

Both analyze the role of media in audience identity formation. Signup and view all the answers

How does the culture industry contribute to the standardization of cultural products?

By packaging works of art in a uniform manner. Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant consequence of the predictability in art driven by the culture industry?

It diminishes the ability of consumers to engage with art critically. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of the culture industry, how is consumer imagination restricted?

It creates a uniform vision of everyday life. Signup and view all the answers

What does ideology represent in the context of the culture industry?

A distortion of reality shaped by cultural products. Signup and view all the answers

How does dominant ideology influence cultural products within capitalist society?

By reinforcing existing capitalist structures. Signup and view all the answers

What does the phrase 'free to be the same' imply about consumer choice in a capitalist society?

Consumer choices are often constrained to similar options. Signup and view all the answers

What role does art play within the culture industry under capitalism?

It functions as a tool for reinforcing dominant ideologies. Signup and view all the answers

How do cultural products mimic the realities of everyday life according to the content?

By presenting a filtered view of life through popular media. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key aspect of the concept of ideology in the context of cultural domination?

It serves as a mechanism to sustain class power. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes standardization of products in the culture industry?

It focuses on producing similar cultural products across markets. Signup and view all the answers

How does predictability in art affect consumer imagination?

It limits the scope of consumer engagement with new ideas. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of ideology under capitalism, how are beliefs typically shaped?

By dominant groups framing social narratives. Signup and view all the answers

What role do ideological institutions play according to Althusser?

They help in achieving societal consensus through culture. Signup and view all the answers

What does Gramsci's notion of hegemony suggest about ruling ideologies?

They are passively accepted by the masses. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following reflects the struggle associated with interpreting media texts according to Stuart Hall?

Interpretation is influenced by personal and social contexts. Signup and view all the answers

How do conservatives typically use the term 'ideology'?

To dismiss beliefs outside of mainstream norms. Signup and view all the answers

How do culture industries reinforce systems of domination according to Adorno and Horkheimer?

They are weak and dependent on underlying industries. Signup and view all the answers

What is a major criticism of popular culture as expressed by Adorno and Horkheimer?

It results in identical standard products. Signup and view all the answers

Why do Adorno and Horkheimer believe that the outcomes of cultural products are predictable?

They follow established and predictable formulae. Signup and view all the answers

In what way does Adorno and Horkheimer suggest that art under capitalism affects consumer imagination?

It reduces complexity and oversimplifies experiences. Signup and view all the answers

What do Adorno and Horkheimer imply about the relationship between mass culture and capitalism?

Mass culture is integral to maintaining capitalist structures. Signup and view all the answers

According to Adorno and Horkheimer, what role do formulaic cultural products play in consumer society?

They create an illusion of variety and competition. Signup and view all the answers

What impact do Adorno and Horkheimer attribute to the entertainment industry within capitalist societies?

It serves as a tool for social control and manipulation. Signup and view all the answers

What do Adorno and Horkheimer claim about the artistic value of popular music and films in a capitalist context?

They reduce complex emotions and ideas to clichés. Signup and view all the answers

What significant shift occurred in Europe from the 17th to the 18th century?

Emergence of Capitalism and Democracy Signup and view all the answers

In the context of the public sphere, what role did newspapers and journals play?

They served as sites for debate and communication between the public and the State. Signup and view all the answers

How did coffeehouses contribute to the emergence of the public sphere in England?

They facilitated public discussions and debates among citizens. Signup and view all the answers

What change took place in the functions of newspapers during the late 18th century?

They transitioned from journalism based on conviction to journalism based on commerce. Signup and view all the answers

What was a key characteristic of the liberal model of the public sphere in the 18th century?

Limited government functions as outlined in constitutional documents. Signup and view all the answers

How did the role of newspapers change in relation to public opinion during the late 18th century?

They began to act as gatekeepers of public conversation. Signup and view all the answers

What does the modern concept of the public sphere emphasize regarding discussions on state matters?

The public sphere is free from interference, allowing for open dialogue. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of private individuals in the historical context of the public sphere?

They played a crucial role in forming a body that influenced public opinion. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary definition of the 'public sphere'?

A realm for discussing matters of common concern. Signup and view all the answers

According to Habermas, what role does the state play in the public sphere?

It guarantees unrestricted free expression. Signup and view all the answers

During which historical period was the concept of the public sphere largely absent?

During Medieval Europe under feudalism. Signup and view all the answers

What does Habermas argue is necessary for true public opinion to emerge?

Free public conversation. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of 'public communication' as per the public sphere concept?

Open court hearings. Signup and view all the answers

How does private individuals' participation in discourse impact public opinion?

It enriches the diversity of opinions shared publicly. Signup and view all the answers

In modern society, which role does the media play according to Habermas's model of the public sphere?

It serves as a forum for diverse public discourse. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes Habermas's 'liberal' model of the public sphere?

It promotes unrestricted political speech. Signup and view all the answers

What does Habermas consider the transformation of the public sphere under mass democracy to be?

A refeudalization Signup and view all the answers

According to Fraser, what is one key criticism of Habermas's notion of the public sphere?

It fails to differentiate between public discourse and state control. Signup and view all the answers

How does the negative impact of private interests manifest in the public sphere according to the content?

By leading to monopolistic control of media Signup and view all the answers

What character trait of the liberal public sphere is noted to have been lost in modern times?

Coherence in public discourse Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant outcome of the social welfare state's public sphere as described in the content?

It has contributed to its own weakening. Signup and view all the answers

What does Fraser argue regarding the articulation of the public sphere within the social welfare state?

It lacks a clear framework defined by Habermas. Signup and view all the answers

How is the concept of the public sphere critiqued in relation to gender according to Fraser?

It mainly represents bourgeois interests. Signup and view all the answers

What catalyzed the confusion between public and private spheres in contemporary society?

The influx of private interests Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Instructor Information

Dr. Jean Hebert, PhD in Communication from Simon Fraser University (2018)
Contact via email: [email protected]
Responds within 24 hours, except on weekends
Office hours:
- Monday & Tuesday (Zoom): 12pm - 1pm
- Wednesday & Saturday (in person, Room 530, main campus): 12pm - 1pm

Classroom Etiquette

Respectful and inclusive space
Openness to diverse perspectives
No oppressive language or actions
Disruptive behaviour (e.g., lateness, using unrelated devices) will not be tolerated
Note-taking is encouraged
Group work and presentations are required

Ice Breaker

Students introduce themselves to a partner, including their name, hometown, and one favourite thing (music, movie, TV show, video game etc)
Impostor twist: one student is randomly selected to be an impostor and must lie about their identity
Students observe and try to identify the impostor

Course Outline Questions

Small group discussions
Groups brainstorm 2-3 high priority questions about the course
Questions passed to another group for answers
Groups consult course outline for answers and page numbers
Presenters answer questions from each group

Black Mirror: Nosedive

Watch Black Mirror, Season 3, Episode 1 ("Nosedive")
Note forms of media shown in the episode
Identify media technologies that are socially beneficial or destructive in the episode

Small Group Discussion

Discussion about why new media sometimes lead to dystopian views
Explore examples of how new media technology has improved lives or communities

Utopia/Dystopia

Utopia: an ideal perfect society, especially in laws, government, and social conditions
Dystopia: an imagined world or society with dehumanized, fearful lives
New media technologies are often viewed as bringing about either utopia or dystopia

Utopian Visions

Example: hoverboards

Dystopian Fears

Examples of dystopian fears associated with new media

Historical Perspective

New media always have supporters (utopians) and critics (dystopians)
The styles change, but the philosophical premises remain the same

Utopian and Dystopian Thinking: A Highlight Reel

Examples of historical media and their associated utopian and dystopian views:
- Writing and the alphabet (Greece, 3rd Century BCE)
- Books (beginning in 1450)
- The popular press (~1840s)
- The telegraph (1844)
- Radio (1930s)
- Video games (1980s)
- Google and Social Media (2000s)

Socrates on Writing

Views writing as similar to painting, as both can imitate life but are unable to answer questions or engage in dialogue

British Cultural Studies

Emerged in the 1960s and 1970s as a critical response to the “mass society” critique of the Frankfurt School
Focused on how audiences use media to construct their own identities, rather than being passively influenced by it
Examined how media like popular songs, fashion, and TV shows are used by audiences for self-expression

Feminist Media Research

Criticized how patriarchy and sexism are perpetuated in media representations of women
Aligned with the “second wave feminism” movement, advocating for equal pay, abortion rights, and other issues of gender inequality
Early feminist media critiques focused on identifying and challenging media distortions that perpetuated gender stereotypes

Third Wave Feminism

Introduced a more intersectional approach to media analysis, considering gender in relation to race, sexuality, and other social factors
Recognized that feminism has different meanings and experiences for women in different cultural and social contexts
Key theorists like bell hooks used poststructural analysis to understand the complex relationship between media and audiences

Transmission, Ritual, Attention/Publicity, and Reception Models of Communication

The transmission model views communication as a simple linear process of sending information from a sender to a receiver
The ritual model emphasizes the shared understanding and social bonding that result from media consumption
The attention/publicity model focuses on how media competes for the attention of audiences, often through sensation and entertainment
The reception model emphasizes the active role of audiences in interpreting and making meaning from media texts

Effects Theories of Media

The hypodermic needle model suggests that media messages have a direct and powerful influence on audiences
The agenda-setting thesis proposes that media don't determine public opinion but rather shape what is seen as important
Cultivation analysis argues that prolonged exposure to media, particularly television, can shape people's perceptions of reality

The Critical Paradigm

Offers an alternative to the simplistic views of the transmission model
Uses qualitative methods to understand the complex and often hidden ways in which media influences society
Focuses on inequality, power, and values in society
Rejects deterministic views of media influence and recognizes the power of audiences to shape and interpret media messages

Approaches Under the Critical Paradigm

Uses and gratifications theory focuses on why people use media and what gratifications they seek from it
Marxist/Frankfurt School views media as a tool of capitalist ideology and control
British Cultural Studies emphasizes the agency of audiences in shaping their own meanings from media texts
Feminist approaches analyze how media constructs and perpetuates gender stereotypes and inequalities

Uses & Gratifications Research

Examines how audiences actively use media for their own purposes and needs
Critics argue that it underestimates the influence of broader social contexts on media use

Marxist/Frankfurt School

Views media as a tool of capitalist ideology that perpetuates inequality and power structures
Critics argue that it underestimates the agency of audiences and the potential for resistance against dominant ideologies

The mathematical model is a simplified view of communication as a linear process of sending and receiving information
The social model recognizes that communication is a complex and multi-layered process shaped by social factors

Mass Communication and Media

Mass communication is the transmission of information on a large scale, typically through one-way communication
Media are the vehicles that convey communication, such as language, pictures, music, and digital platforms
Mass media are the specific vehicles through which mass communication takes place, including newspapers, television, radio, and the internet

New Media and Convergence

New media refers to technologies, practices, and institutions that facilitate widespread participation and interactivity in the production and exchange of information
Technological convergence describes the merging of different communication technologies, such as the integration of internet access into phones and televisions
Corporate convergence involves the merging of companies and industries across different media sectors, for example the consolidation of news outlets, music labels, and film studios

Artefacts, Producers, and Audiences

Artefacts are the products of media, including films, songs, advertisements, memes, and news stories
Producers are the individuals and organizations that create media artifacts
Audiences are the people who consume and interact with media artifacts

The Complexity of Media in a Digital Age

Audiences are increasingly active in modifying and remixing media content, blurring the lines between producers and consumers

The Culture Industry

Adorno and Horkheimer, members of the Frankfurt School, argued that mass media institutions diminish political participation and alienate people from meaningful cultural expression.
They believed mass culture under monopoly is identical and that popular culture consists of standardized products that meet the same needs at countless locations.
Popular songs, movies, and radio programs are embedded in a cycle of manipulation and retroactive need, unifying the capitalist system ever more tightly.
Cultural industries depend on underlying industries like energy, petrochemicals, banking, and manufacturing.
The differences between cultural products merely reflect the classification of different groups of consumers (market segmentation).
Art under capitalism simplifies creative expression and tantalizes without fulfilling.
Love is reduced to romance and art & advertising are identical in the culture industry: both tantalize and deceive.
All are free to choose an ideology, but this freedom reflects economic coercion and proves to be freedom to be the same.
The culture industry is seen as no different from fascism in how it affects ideology.
Louis Althusser defines ideology as our "imaginary relation to the real conditions of existence."

Ideology

Ideology is a distorted frame for viewing the world used by the powerful to make unequal power relations seem inevitable.
Ideology is a struggle experienced by audiences when they interpret a media text.
Ideology is often used to dismiss ideas that are outside the norm - socialism and critical race theory are called ideological.
Hegemony refers to the covert imposition of ruling ideologies by the ruling class.
Ideological institutions like government, religious institutions, and media play a crucial role in achieving domination-through-consensus.

The Public Sphere: History & Theory

The concept of the public sphere emerged in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries, as society shifted from feudalism and monarchy to capitalism and democracy.
This shift saw the rise of a bourgeois class of private individuals, separate from the state, who formed a "public body."
Newspapers and journals became important mediums for public debate about politics and social issues.
Coffeehouses in Britain played a significant role in the development of the public sphere as a place for discussions and debate.
The liberal model of the public sphere emerged alongside newly formed democracies where individual liberties were emphasized.
Newspapers became a critical means of communication, as a platform for information and public discourse.
Political groups began sponsoring their own newspapers, with over 200 such journals in France by 1848.
The transition towards a "journalism of commerce," prioritizing profit, began to replace the earlier "journalism of conviction."

Habermas's Public Sphere

Jürgen Habermas introduced his influential concept of the "public sphere" in his 1962 book, The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere.
Habermas's model is characterized by unrestricted free expression, guaranteed by the state.
Examples of public communication, essential for a healthy public sphere, include open court hearings, parliamentary debates, and government-collected statistical and scientific information.
Habermas argues that a true public sphere requires free conversation, allowing for the formation of public opinion.
Before the rise of the public sphere, medieval Europe lacked a distinct public sphere due to strict social hierarchies.
Expressions of public opinion were mainly restricted to those in power, such as kings, lords, and religious officials.

The Transformation of the Public Sphere

The emergence of the public sphere was fueled by the influx of private interests.
The social welfare state, characterized by mass democracy and mass media, brought about a shift in the public sphere, transforming it from a space for private individuals to a "mass" public.
This shift also led to a blurring of lines between the public and private spheres, as access to information became more widespread.
Habermas argues that this "refeudalization" of the public sphere has weakened it, as large businesses exert influence on the press and public discourse.
He advocates for the need to reorganize political and social power to restore a true public sphere.

Critiques of Habermas's Public Sphere

Nancy Fraser criticizes Habermas's model for conflating the press with the state.
Fraser argues that this conflation reinforces an authoritarian paradigm rather than a participatory democracy.
She also suggests that Habermas's concept of the "public sphere" is problematic because it is defined in contrast to the “domestic sphere,” which is stereotypically feminized, portraying feminism as antithetical to democratic speech.
Fraser believes that Habermas's model is exclusive to a bourgeois liberal elite and fails to adequately address the complexities of a public sphere within the social welfare state.
Fraser offers an alternative account of the history of the public sphere, critiquing Habermas's idealistic approach.

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Description

This quiz covers the important aspects of Dr. Jean Hebert's Communication course, including classroom etiquette and ice breaker activities. Students will engage in discussions that promote a respectful and inclusive environment while learning to identify diverse perspectives. Explore how group work and presentations will be structured throughout the semester.